reviews and more about historical fiction and history-related non-fiction for children and teens

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

February Carnival of Children's Literature

Carnival in Trinidad!

I am delighted to host for the first time here at The Fourth Musketeer the monthly Carnival of Children's Literature, which brings together blog posts about children's books from across the kidlitosphere.

February is not only the month of love and Valentine's day, it's also the month of Carnival and Mardi Gras, celebrated all over the world with wild celebrations, parades, masks, and general merriment and revelry before the fasting, prayers, and penitence of Lent. To commemorate the Carnival season, I hope you will enjoy these wonderful photos of children from around the world which decorate this month's Carnival of Children's Literature. Laissez le bon temps rouler, as they say in Cajun country!

Maeve at Yellow Brick Reads launches a new project, Favourite Books from Childhood, in which she asks guest bloggers to talk about their early reading memories and their favorite books they demanded at bedtime. In the inaugural post, she reminisces about her love for Paddington Bear.

Shirley at Simply Science shares a write-up of Step by Step Experiments with Plants.

Heidi at Geo Librarian shares two new picks for President's Day about Thomas Jefferson and John Adams: Those Rebels, John and Tom, by Barbara Kerley, and Worst of Friends: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and the True Story of an American Feud, by Suzanne Tripp Jumain. These books are a great way to meet two of our Founding Fathers.

Roberta of Wrapped in Foil reviews a new middle grade nonfiction book about an unusual disaster, The Great Molasses Flood: Boston, 1919, by Deborah Kops.

Lori Calabrese has a review of one of Kidlitosphere's own, Laura Purdie Salas' new book, A Leaf Can Be... Lori says, "kids will never look at a leaf the same way again!"

Trudy at Boys and Literacy reviews We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March by Cynthia Levinson. She remarks, "I thought this was a beautiful book on the 1963 Birmingham Children's March.

Lisa at Shelf-Employed has a provocative post, "What we say without words," in which she examines the impact of different covers of a children's nonfiction book on Iran.

At The Fourth Musketeer, I interviewed author Laurie Calkhoven, author of The Boys of Wartime series, about her newest book, Michael at the Invasion of France, 1943.

Carmela of Teaching Authors has a guest interview with Barb Rosenstock, author of The Camping Trip that Changed America, illustrated by Caldecott winner Mordecai Gerstein.

Children's carnival in Brazil

Book Projects

Zoe at Playing by the Book invites you to participate in the upcoming inaugural International Edible Book Festival, an opportunity to create an edible book inspired by children's literature. Photos must be submitted by March 16, and there are prizes available!

Paul at Babysitting Jobs posts a useful list of 10 bedtime stories parents love to read with their kids.

Holly at LitLad shares a post on the Louis Armstrong biography Play, Louis, Play! and her new boys' book club, the Pop Bag Book Club.

Glen shares tips on how to create fiction middle grade readers will enjoy at his blog Glen C. Strathy.

Katrina of Moms Kids Books offers a series of blog posts on what to look for in a great book for kids.

Eric at Happy Birthday Author shares his birthday celebration post for author Jim Aylesworth, reading his book The Full Belly Bowl and then making papier mache full belly bowls for his grandparent's 65th wedding anniversary.

Carol talks about book jackets, including a new book devoted to the topic, at Rasco from RIF.

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About Me/Contact Me

I am currently working as a children's librarian in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. For more on my background, click on my photo to go to my About Me page. You can reach me by commenting on this blog or by e-mail at margo_tanenbaum@yahoo.com. If you would like to send me a galley, please contact me for my mailing address.

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Review policy

Some of the books reviewed were received as advance review copies from Amazon Vine or directly from the publisher. Others may have been purchased or checked out from the library. I am willing to receive copies of appropriate books from publishers for review on this blog. Please contact me for further information.